Dietary researchers predicted an explosion in mental health problems in the UK unless diet and the quality of food was drastically improved. They blamed changes in farming and food processing practices over the past 50 years.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids, now deficient in the British diet and therefore in most British people, are a good example. Professor Michael Crawford from the London Metropolitan University explained that people's omega-3 intake was higher in the first half of the last century because cows and lambs were fed on grass, which is rich in omega-3. Now livestock is fed on grain and vitamins. People also ate far more fish, fruit and vegetables than these days. The researchers believe the Government should actively consider fortifying foods with omega-3 to improve the nation's present and future health.

A study presented at the conference of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids in June 2004 showed that pregnant women with lower intakes of omega-3 were more likely to have children who developed behavioural problems, attention disorders and other neurological problems. The mothers themselves were more likely to suffer from depression if they had lower-than-average intakes of the essential fatty acid.

A separate study published earlier in 2004 revealed a link between a lack of omega-3 in the diet and increased risk of developing schizophrenia in many countries worldwide. It also showed that people who ate high levels of sugar and dairy products but little oily fish were more likely to develop severe mental illness.

Ed.- People wishing to significantly increase their intake of omega-3 by eating more oily fish face a problem. Most sea fish are polluted by extremely toxic chemicals like mercury. Even the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends no more than:

• four 140gm portions of oily fish a week for men and boys, women past child-bearing age and women who cannot or are not intending to have children

• two 140gm portions of oily fish a week for women of child-bearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls

The answer would be to take a strong omega-3 supplement but, despite the best efforts of supplement manufacturers, many of these contain the same toxins as the fish from which they are derived. Of the omega-3 supplement manufacturers we know, Nordic Naturals appears to take the most comprehensive measures (backed up by independent research) to ensure a high-quality, low-toxicity product:

• Only wild mackerel, sardines and anchovies, all fish low on the food chain, and therefore less polluted, are used. Their children's product, DHA Formula and Liquid Arctic Cod Liver Oil, comes from virgin Arctic cod liver oil

• The oils are distilled at the lowest possible temperature to avoid damaging the essential fatty acids they contain, particularly the most valuable for human health, DHA and EPA

• The distillation process also removes all trans-fatty acids and almost all mercury, PCBs and dioxins whilst increasing the proportion of DHA and EPA in the mixture to over 80%

• To minimise any risk of the mixture developing rancidity, as much of the oxygen as possible is flushed out using nitrogen and the addition of powerful antioxidants (lecithin and vitamins C and E)

For further information visit website: www.nordicnaturals.com

One company promoting Nordic Natural supplements is The Nutri Centre in London (Tel.: 0207 436 5122 email:customerservices@nutricentre.com).